Living Guide: Soacha

Living guide

SOACHA

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Tips and advice to help you make the most of your new temporary home.

Welcome to Soacha!

Soacha is often referred to as “Bogotá poorer neighbour,” and the constant traffic between the two cities leads to many thinking of it as yet another one of the capital’s sprawling working class suburbs. Many people who work in Bogotá live in Soacha and make the commute everyday. Traditionally home to taxi drivers and maids, soaring real estate prices in Bogotá mean that many more are choosing Soacha as a more affordable location. Ever expanding, it’s hard to know the city’s exact population. In 2005, a census calculated 500,000, however in 2017 many estimate the city’s population at 1.5million.

Once known as Suacha Soacha meaning “city of the man of God” in Chibcha, the language of the Muisca people who inhabited the Cundinamarca region, the problems the city faces today are complex. Many of the poorer neighbourhoods in the hills have no access to water or sanitary facilities. For many Colombians fleeing violence in other parts of the county, Soacha has provided a home, making its population multi-ethnic and predominantly young. According to the city council 48% of the population are between 1544 years old. In your SENA centre you’ll find

many hardworking and dedicated students, who are working hard to overcome their problems.

No tourists pass through Soacha and it’s incredibly rare to find someone who speaks English. Knowing Spanish before coming to Soacha really helps, or having the basics and a real desire to learn. Previous volunteers who have lived here have improved their language skill more than those who live in international cities. Despite being a bustling city, that is growing and expanding every year, the beauty of Soacha is that once you enter a neighborhood, you immediately get a sense of community and cohesiveness that one doesn’t usually find in big cities. As a multi-ethnic city, you can find typical food from every part of Colombia and get a taste for many rich and distinct cultures.

Soacha is close to the small town of Sibate, a beautiful weekend getaway with gorgeous mountain views, hiking. It’s famous for delicious strawberries The national park Chicaque is a short fifteen-minute bus ride away, as well as the famous Tequendama Falls and the spectacular Zoologico SantaCruz. And being so close to Bogota, you’re just a bus

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ride/transmilenio ride away from all the history, culture and tourist attractions that Bogota has to offer. Like any other city there are bars, cinemas and gyms to use.

The most important free cultural event on Soacha’s calendar is the Festival del Sol y Luna that takes places in December. Over three days, and running between midday and into the night, the event showcases diverse Colombian talent, making it a great event to

get your head around Colombia’s many musical genres.

Living in Soacha as a foreigner is a challenge, but those with a heart for international development and social issues have loved their time in the city. Locals can seem reserved at first, but they are hardworking, modest and generous people. There are many possibilities to volunteer on the side and previous volunteers have got involved with local churches. Living prices are very low.

Fast Facts

Population 522,422 Climate 12°C/53.6°F and 14°C/57.2°F. Rainy season is April, May and September. During July and August, you can expect strong winds a common changes in temperatures.

Department Distrito Capital

Geographic location Soacha borders Bojacá and Mosquera to the north, Sibaté and Pasca to the south, to the east the capital Bogotá and to the west Granada and San Antonio del Tequendama.

Culture The Bogotá Savanna is known for the cundiboyacense culture, a mix of indigenous traditions, with Spanish and Catholic customs. Soacha has an important industrial zone and is home to mostly working-class families

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City Map

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Festivals and Events

Festival del Sol y Luna | August The most important free cultural event in Soacha’s calendar is the Festival del Sol y Luna that takes places in December. Over three days, and running between midday and the early morning, the event showcases diverse Colombian talent, making it a great event to get your head around Colombia’s many musical genres. Find out more a Soacha iIustrada Soacha is close to Bogotá so at the weekend you can make the most of cultural events happening in the capital.

Events in Bogotá Bogotá has a jammed-packed calendar allyear-round, with plenty of free cultural events that attract international acts. For a weekly update keep an eye on the Bogotá Post’s event listings – https://thebogotapost.com/category/entertai nment/what-to-do-in-bogota/

Free Rock al Parque - July Not for the faint of ear, metal culture is alive in the capital. The first few days are more earsplitting than the last. 2017 headline acts were Lamb of God, Death Angel and Puerto Rican Draco Rossa.

Salsa al Parque - August The salsa acts that everyone is talking about attract a large and diverse crowd every year.

Jazz al Parque - September Jazz and a few other things in between, bring a picnic blanket and wine.

Hip Hop al Parque - October Not for the faint of heart, Hip Hop al Parque crowd is thousands strong. You won’t be allowed in with alcohol or anything that could be use as a weapon (including sharp keys).

Previous acts include Jurassic 5 and Colombia hip hop legends La Etnia. Expect international and local acts.

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Other events Estéreo Picnic -March Held just outside of Bogotá Estéreo Picnic hosts big international acts like The Strokes, Flume and The Weeknd. Packed with Bogotá’s trendy crowd, it’s an expensive event, but very worthwhile for music fans.

La Feria del Libro (FILBO) - April FILBO is every booklovers dream. Over two weeks over 500,000 people attended more than 1,200 events held by authors and other people on interest. Every year a guest country is invited giving the event an international feel. Last year was France’s turn.

Alimentarte Bogotá - two weekends in July/August The first weekend of the festival focuses on international dishes, and the second weekend emphasizes Colombian cuisine.

Things to do in the region Parque Arqueológico y Ecoturístico Boquemonte Just a 5km drive from Soacha is the Archaeological and Ecotourism park Boquemonte. Nestled in a cloudy forest and indigenous reserve there are plenty of outdoors activities to take part in from climbing, hiking, riding and camping. It makes an atmospheric spot for a picnic - just remember your raincoat.

Parque Ecologico La Poma La Poma makes an exciting visit as it is home to many rupestrian paintings, cave paintings from the peoples who populated Cundinamarca before the Spanish arrival. Take in the majestic trees and get a feel for the depth and diversity of Colombia’s history.

Bring comfortable clothes and appropriate shoes for a sometimes muddy walk.

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Parque Chicaque

evidence! Tequendama is a short ride away from Soacha.

(30 mins from Bogota)

Zoológico SantaCruz 8km away from Soacha is the majestic Parque Chicaque, that deserves more than just one visit. Located in a beautiful cloud forest, it truly is a walk in the clouds. Located at 2,700 meters above sea level, it’s an tranquil place to enjoy hikes, waterfalls and amazing views There are a wide range of guided tours on option and places to stay to fit all budgets, from camping to tree houses. Entrance to the park costs around $15,000 depending on low or high season. Check the website for more information: http://www.chicaque.com/

About an hour's drive is Zoológico Santacruz.

Open everyday of the week from 8am-5pm, this is great activity if you don’t feel like travelling far on a bank holiday weekend.

Colombia is home to many exotic and fascinating animals, however many are hard to get up close to. Visiting the zoo is the perfect chance to see a jaguar, Latin America’s biggest predator and also to the incredibly shy Andean bear, known the the Oso de Anteojos for their markings.

Tequendama Falls

Villa de Leyva

In muisca times the Tequendama waterfalls was were Chibchachum, the god of business men and labourers, threw a fit of rage and attempted to destroy the human race. In more modern times the impressive 160 meter drop became a popular suicide spot for wronged lovers. In 1928 a luxurious hotel was built overlooking the falls to meet the demands of tourists. However, a spate of bad population from the Rio Bogotá led to its closure. Still open as a museum many rumour it to be haunted. Check out youtube for

One of the few towns in Colombia to have preserved much of its original colonial style and architecture-- the streets and large central plaza are still paved with cobblestones, and many buildings date from the sixteenth century. It is about a 3.5 hour bus ride from Bogotá. From here, you can visit other sites in Boyacá

Salt Cathedrals in Zipaquirá Take a bus about an hour and a half outside of Bogotá to visit the small town of Zipaquirá.

Here, you can go to the famous tourist site,

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the Salt Cathedrals. It is a Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine.

You can get a tour in English, or in Spanish if you’d like to practice.

Rock climbing in Suesca This town is filled with climbers, and offers over 500 routes. You can hire a guide for the day who will take you climbing (all gear included) based on your level. The rocks are stunningly beautiful!

Food and Beverages Colombian typical foods Hot chocolate with cheese It might seem a little odd at first, but if you love them separately why not have them together!

Ajiaco A thick potato and chicken soup served with capers, cream, avocado and rice on the side.

It’s belly-filler that’s perfecto on a cold day (or everyday) and trying to eat the hunk of corn served inside is a fun challenge. Ajiaco is a

common dish served in Colombia’s colder cities like Bogotá and Tunja.

Bandeja Paisa A staple from Antioquia, Bandeja Paisa is a beast of dish and has its history in feeding hungry farmers. Some sources say that originally the dish contained 15 ingredients, however now most expect as a modest 8.

Expect beans, white rice, beef mince, pork scratchings, chorizo, fried egg, plantain and hogao, an onion and tomato sauce.

Mondongo Originally from the Santander region, mondongo isn’t for everyone, but it definitely has its loyal following. Containing pork, tripe, chorizo, onion garlic and cumin, it’s usually served with a hunk of corn.

Sancocho de Gallina This is a Colombian Sunday staple, popular all over the country, but particularly loved in the Valle del Cauca region. Gallina, is hen meat, and is slightly tougher and yellow in colour than regular chicken. Sanchocho, stew, is served with potatoes, plantain and yuca, a starchy root vegetable. At the weekend many

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families light fires near rivers and cook this dish slowly throughout the day.

Empanadas Deep fried and sold on many a street corner, petrol station or served as a bar snack, empanadas come in all shapes and forms.

You’ll find plenty of modern variations but the most traditional contain beef or chicken with potato or cheese. They’re normally served with a mildly spicy sauce (Colombians don’t like spice) called ají and you’ll need plenty of napkins as they can get pretty greasy.

Tamales Common for breakfast, every region in Colombia has their own take on tamales, however they all come wrapped in a banana leaf. These delightful little parcels contain either marinated chicken or pork in corn maze and vegetables. Sometimes there is also an egg thrown in there. If you are from the US or Europe this is definitively one of Colombia’s more exotic dishes.

Cazuela de frijoles Beans are a staple in Colombia and come in many shapes and forms. Cazuela de frijoles, a bean casserole, can be found on most menus

and is a slightly lighter alternative to bandeja paisa. It’s served with various options, but the most common is port and platano maduro, mature plantain.

Hormigas culonas A local delicacy from the Santander region, hormigas culonas are big-bottomed ants that are crunchy in texture. Might not be for most, however, apparently bug protein is the future to the meat crisis, so it might be time to give them a try.

Cuy Cuy is guinea pig, so you might want to apologies to your childhood pet before tucking in. This dish is very popular in the Andean Nariño region and is usually roasted.

Mojojoy If can handle hormigas culonas without fluttering an eyelid, then you should up the level with mojojoy. These chubby white worm larvae from the amazon region and be roasted or fried and often come elegantly served in cocktail glass.

Arepa Wherever you venture in Colombia you’ll find the trusty arepa. Made maze dough, they come sweet, salted, unsalted, white, yellow

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and sometimes stuffed with egg. Each region will say theirs is the best. You can buy them on the street, but they also come with meals.

There aren’t any rules when you can eat them, some choose for breakfast, others like them for an evening snack. If you're British, try marmite on the cheese one.

Salpicón de frutas Salpicon sits somewhere in between juice and a fruit salad. Containing fresh watermelon and assorted fruits like pineapple and papaya, it’s finished off with a splash of sparkling soda water. You’ll find it being sold by the gallon on the street. It’s the perfect snack/drink on a hot day and will definitely help you achieve your 5 a day.

Mote de queso This Caribbean classic is great for lactose lovers as it usually contains cheers. Other ingredients include ñame and coconut milk.

Corrientazo / Menú del Día Served only at lunch at corrientazo (Menu of the day) aims to fill a hungry bell. For a cheap price you normally get a soup to start followed by a main and juice to wash it down.

Eating out As mentioned Soacha’s population is diverse making the city's food sense diverse in different typed of Colombian cuisine.

Fortunately eating out in Soacha is incredibly cheap. Here are some top picks from past volunteers

Nutribara On the séptima. A good greasy fast food joint.

Los Balcones Near parque de Soacha. A pleasant sit-down restaurant that also does takeaways.

Santander restaurant On the south side of the Soacha bridge Calle 13

Ketchup Calle 15, south side of the autopista

A local view

Soacha is a destination often rejected by many volunteers for it’s lack of touristic sights.

However for former-volunteer Jackie Socha

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her experience in Soacha not only left her with a lasting impression of the city, but the desire to stay on for another year.

“I studied international development at university and my interests and heart have always been in related topics. In Soacha there are a diverse group of people from all over Colombia as many have been displaced by violence. Living in Soacha is an incredible learning experience as you live with the community and hear their stories.”

“Living in Soacha i’ve learnt so much about resilience and simplicity. Most people work incredibly hard and have grueling week routines. The have a much clearer view of what life is about. They take advantage to spend time with family and friends. It’s made be grateful for the opportunities you have and all the free time is a privilege. Women here are incredibly strong and selfless. Some people wake up at 3am to make lunch for their kids then travel into Bogotá to clean other people’s houses, arriving home at 7pm to help kids with their homework. For volunteers open to growing as a person there is no better way to do it then in Soacha - they’ll have a new perspective which is very worth it. You’re Spanish will also rapidly improve.”

Staying safe ü Call a taxi instead of flagging one from the street. It is especially recommended that you call a safe taxi at night, if you have been drinking, if you are going to the airport, if you are going a long distance or if you have your laptop or other valuables.

You can download taxi apps for iPhones and androids – the most popular is Easy Taxi. ü Do not walk alone at night. Spend the extra pesos to take a quick taxi ride home. ü Hold your purse or bag in front of you.

Embrace the stylish look of wearing your backpack on your front while on the bus or waiting in a line. ü Be aware of your surroundings. ü Keep nothing in your back pockets, especially phones and wallets. ü Don’t flash valuables on the bus, on the street or in public places = don’t “dar papaya” (give it away) ☺ ü Don’t go down isolated streets or into dodgy neighborhoods (see housing guide or consult locals), stick to main roads with lots of people. ü Take advice and cues from Colombians, who are equally aware of safety concerns.

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ü On a night out, make sure your phone is in a zipped pocket. ü Be wary of your drinks on a night out.

Spiking is fairly common

Banking

Immigration

All volunteers will be registered with Bancolombia. You can find them in any part of the city, and the ATMs are easy to access as well.

Local Migración Colombia

Online Banking

Calle 100 # 11B-27 Here you can apply for and pick up your cédula (Colombian national ID card). After the program ends, some volunteers also go here to inquire about applying for a salvoconducto.

The salvoconducto is a temporary document issued by Migración Colombia to foreigners who wish to extend their stay in Colombia past the date of their visa expiration. It extends your legal allowance to stay in Colombia for up to 30 days for a cost of $53.000 COP. * Terms and conditions are subject to change, please visit your local Migración Colombia office or speak to your Regional Coordinator for the most updated information.

If you wish to do online banking you will need register yourself on the Bancolombia online platform Sucursal Virtual Personas and you can set up your ‘segundo clave’ on the “Sucursal telefónica Bancolombia” at the Bancolombia branches, which is necessary for online purchases. There are help assistants at the Bancolombia branches who can help you with any banking questions.

Domestic and International ATM costs You shouldn’t be charged any fees for using your Bancolombia card for debit transactions within Colombia. In addition, you are given 10 free withdrawals from Bancolombia ATMs per month, after that you will be charged 2,600 per withdrawal. However, when using your Bancolombia card overseas you will be charged with a flat ATM fee of 4,900 pesos.

Remember that the withdrawal daily limits set

by Bancolombia are 3 withdrawals of up to

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$600,000 COP per day. If you try to take out more than this amount in foreign currency, the transaction won’t go through.

Ideally, we recommend that volunteers withdraw the entire balance of their Bancolombia account and close the account prior to leaving the country. You can do this at your local Bancolombia branch or via the Bancolombia phone line (“Sucursal telefónica Bancolombia”) if you have an account balance of $0.000 COP. This last step can also be done overseas.

Medical EPS The Nueva EPS Center is located on Calle 13 No. 8 – 68 . This is where you go for general appointments, referrals and prescriptions.

Appointments cost 2,200 pesos and can be made online or over the phone. You can get an affiliation certificate or check for affiliated clinics and pharmacies online at

Hospitals with Nueva EPS affiliation

International Transfers Bancolombia charges a flat rate fee for international transfer of $32.48 USD. To make an international transfer call the “línea de atención al cliente internacional de Bancolombia” and set up the transfer (“monetización”). You must have a ‘segundo clave’ to complete this process. * Terms and conditions are subject to change, please visit your local Bancolombia branch or speak to your Regional Coordinator for the most updated information.

You can come here in case of emergencies, please look for the one closest to you and do not forget to bring your cédula with you.

Inversiones Lucedmarb S.A. Dirección: Cra. 4 No. 20 - 24, Soacha Teléfono: 5902167 - 5902184

ESE Hospital de Tunjuelito Dirección: Tr. 44 No. 52 B - 02 Sur - Dg. 53 No. 59 A - 11 Teléfono: 2040344 Ext. 105 - 2307766 - 2042622

Caja Colombiana de Subsidio Familiar Colsubsidio Dirección: Cll. 67 No. 10 - 27 or

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Dirección: Cll. 163 A No. 15 - 67/89

Hospital Rafael

Universitario

Dirección: Av. Cra. 104 No. 152 C - 50

Clínica

San

Dirección: Tr. 100 A No. 8 A - 50

Dirección: Cra. 8 No. 17 - 45 Sur

Sociedad de Cirugía Hospital de San José

SE Hospital Engativá II Nivel Teléfono: 2913300 Ext. 1258 - 1120 - Referencia

de

Bogotá

Dirección: Cll. 10 No. 18 - 75

Fundación Hospital Infantil de San José Dirección: Cra. 52 No. 67 A - 71

Corporación Juan Ciudad Dirección: Cll. 24 No. 29 - 45

Corporación Juan Ciudad - Barrios Unidos Dirección: Cll. 66 No. 52 - 25

National Clinics Centenario Dirección: Cll. 13 No. 17 - 21

Pharmacies There are numerous pharmacies located all over Soacha where you can get over the counter medicine and fill doctors prescriptions. Farmacia Pasteur is a 24/7 pharmacy that you can find on Carrera 7 No. 32-35 Local 102 and 103 C.C. Mercurio. If you visit a doctor you will be written a prescription and told where to go to pick it up. Each insurance company has their own pharmacy. However, lines are usually long and it may be worthwhile to see how much it costs to just pay out of pocket.

If you are at home and need some medicine but do not feel like getting out. Remember in Colombia just about anything can be delivered including medicine. This is the number for the same pharmacy, which delivers 24 hours: (1) 9011062.

ESE Hospital de Suba II Nivel

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* Terms and conditions are subject to change, please visit your local EPS Center or speak to your Regional Coordinator for the most updated information.

Interstate Buses

Transportation

Taxis

Airport The easiest way to get to the airport is through a Taxi, which will be between 20.000 to 30.000 pesos depending on the hour or route selected. You can also take a bus from Soacha to the Transmilenio San Mateo, which would cost around 1.000 pesos, and then take a combination of buses that will drop you off in Portal el Dorado for 2.000 pesos (you need to buy a Transmilenio card before hand, which is worth 3.000 pesos and useful for whenever you´ll need this form of transportation). There you will need to take a small bus, free of charge, that will take you directly to the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá.

Local Buses From Downtown center or SENA center to Transmilenio San Mateo is $1000 From Downtown or SENA center to portal Sur $2.000 From Downtown or SENA center to Avenida Boyacá in Bogotá is $3000

The terminal de Buses is in Bogotá at Dg. 23 #69-60. You can just ask the taxi driver to take you to the Terminal de Buses in Salitre.

It’s always best to call a safe taxi instead of flagging one from the street, as many taxi drivers overcharge foreigners and Colombia has a history of safety problems with taxis (mainly in big cities). Taxis are yellow and usually have the license plate number on the side of the door. If it is a licensed taxi it should have the driver’s information hanging on a placard on the back of the passenger seat. We suggest downloading Easy Taxi and Tappsi apps on your phone so that you can call a taxi using your phone. Uber is also highly used in Bogotá, and is a safe and convenient way to travel.

Mototaxis Avoid taking mototaxis – they are dangerous and most are illegal. Authorised mototaxi drivers have a special vest that they wear displaying the license number of their motorbike. They should also have 2 helmets, one for them and one for their passenger, both with the motorbike license number on

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the back. Motorbikes can be extremely dangerous and as volunteers you are asked to avoid them.

Laundry If you end up living in a place without a washing machine…no worries. In Colombia you can get anything delivered including a washing machine. It usually costs around 24,000 pesos for 24 hours. Tell your landlord or neighbors “Quiero alquilar una lavadora.”

You can also go to your neighbourhood lavanderia where you can pay by the weight to wash your clothes. They will wash, dry and fold your clothes for you.

Local/National News El Tiempo (national; Spanish) http://www.eltiempo.com/ El Espectador (national; Spanish) http://www.elespectador.com/ Colombia Reports (national; fun news; English) http://colombiareports.com/ Soacha Ilustrada (National; Local; Spanish) http://soachailustrada.com/

SENA Centers Centro Industrial y de Desarrollo Empresarial Soacha Main building: Cl. 13 #10-60 English Building: In order to get to the English Building you can take any bus that goes through Carrera 4 to the south. Then you can get off at a Gazel Gas Station, which would be on your left (See picture below). The center is right behind it.

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